Jesus is traveling with a crowd, teaching as He walks. A blind man sitting by the road hears the passing commotion and asks what is going on. When he learns that Jesus of Nazareth is near, he calls out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Several times the man calls out, even louder after some in the crowd tell him to be quiet. “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

This is so true. This exact example was used in a sermon at my church not even three weeks ago.

Two good ones for me are love me and carry me.

So many times we feel like God isn’t answering us or isn’t listening and we walk away thinking God doesn’t care. But WE are the ones who always walk away. It is never the other way around. In the midst of what seems to be nothing going on, God is working and waiting to pour out great and better things on us than we could have ever imagined.

We are those kids, hungry for more and in desperate need of love. We have their spirit, but just have a lot more to cover up and hide the real need. We have jobs, material things, etc. to hide behind, while the kids in Compassion assisted countries have empty hands. What is so amazing is that when we realize that we really aren’t different in what we truly need (truth, love, knowledge of Christ, salvation, etc.), we receive those things from eachother.

I receive so many blessings and so much love from my kids. Knowing I can make a difference in their lives makes me feel like I am not living in vain.

And truth be told, my sponsored kids have strengthened my own relationship with God. God truly is good to work through them for us and us for them.

Oh, Chris, they break my heart! The write-up on their project brings up a question I’ve had for a long time. Many of the children are so thin and hungry looking, and yet the description of what the project provides does not include nutritious meals. When that is not listed in a Compassion project description, can we assume that the children do get food, or do some projects just not offer food to the children?

I’m calling out to God for help in trusting Him with my future plans. He’s taken me on a path I could have never imagined a couple years ago. Being in university, what I’m going to do in my future is never far from my mind, and I need to trust God with my plans and not worry about them as much as I do.

What you said was GREAT! It seems as though it is so difficult sometimes to make the difference we want or to feel like I am doing something important. I will type a short prayer, Lord thank you for being more powerful than we can imagine, thank you for setting us free and thank you for setting up righteous acts for us! Thank you for YOUR forgiveness! Thank you for creating me in your image! Lord thank you for giving me strength, perseverence, dreams, and difficulities I keep wanting to say “and most importantly” but all I am thankful for is so important! Thank you Lord that your POWER is perfected in my weakness! Thank you for the example of Daniel of how he endured the Lion’s Den! Thank you for the courage, ferocity, and truth of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! AMEN!

I just had to add again how I agree with what you said about God not walking away. When I get discouraged and give up temporarily whether it is in a workout at 24hr fitness or other goals I have made, God has never walked out period. Jesus went to the cross saying “I’m not walking out.” He walked such a difficult road so if I am not sensing/feeling the comfort that doesn’t mean God has walked out. I am reminded of the time Jesus in Matthew 5:41 says, ” 41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two [miles].” That is my one word for the new year: “two” and the idea I had was from Matthew 5:41 above. Sometimes I do “two” without knowing but most of the time I hate doing just the one mile! Lord help me go the second mile, help me to be glad and have EXTREME JOY and contentment in going the second mile! AMEN!

Mike – I have been reading the Sermon on the Mount a lot lately and I have that particular verse underlined and highlighted. I think the whole concept of walking away is addressed in Ephesians when they talk about the armor of God and also when Jesus says to count the cost to follow Him. We have all sorts of armor to put on as children of God. When we dress in this armor, the back is really the only part of the body left exposed. That shows me that God doesn’t want us to walk away, because when we do, THAT is when the enemy strikes. The more we turn from God, the easier it is to be attacked. Yet God still loves us, even when we reject Him. Even when we walk away, He is still there waiting on us to return to Him. Jesus tells us to count the cost to follow Him. It isn’t always going to be an easy road, but it really is the ONLY road worth walking on. I try to remind myself of these things when I am discouraged. It is never God that fails me. It’s me trying to take matters into my own hands. Good luck this year with your word. Mine is devotion.

The needs of children in poverty include food, safety, health care, education, unconditional love, attention, acceptance, the salvation of Christ.

The needs of those who already have “enough” include the same — plus noticing & helping others, sharing, loving, giving up selfish wants, resisting greed & defying the hunger for more and more possessions and entertainment.

In short, we desperately need each other. As Wess Stafford says, “Without us they die in need; without them we die in greed.”

Look, I think that we Americans should help our country first cause we have 37 million people live under poverty and when we finish help our Nation. We should worry about other nation. I am not saying that we don’t have to help people. I am saying we should help us first that help others . How can we help other ? if we can even help ourselves . Think people

Gabriel, we’re glad you have a heart to help others, and I truly do hope you are helping people in our nation. What organization are you working through to accomplish this? You should know though, that many of the people who sponsor children also volunteer and financially support some sort of cause in our own nation. It should be “either, or” because as Christians we are not called to be selective. We are simply called. There is no reason to stop one person from doing good in one way, simply because another decides to do good in another. In fact, if both stick to their own ways, more people are helped.